Signal for vessels



CRAIG & 11115111011'.

Signal Light. No. 14,226. Pamed Feb. 12, 1856.

i' TTEB STATES PATEN T CTTTCE.

W. P. CRAIG AND W. R. RIGHTOR, OF NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.

SIGNAL FOR VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 14,226, dated February 12, 1856.

To all whom t may concern.'

Beit known that we, WALDO Il.I CRAIG and VILLIAM R. RIGHTOR, both of Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Arrangement of Signal-Lights for Preventing Marine Collisions; and we do hereby declare the following to be a clear and eX- act description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this speciiication.

The object of our invention is to afford to vessels approaching each other in the night time or during a fog a prompt and unfailing indication of each others courses.

Our invention consists in an ascending range of light so placed in the longitudinal center of the boat or vessel, as to be conspicuously visible viewed from another vessel toward which the first is heading, the foremost light being placed the lowest and the others in succession upward and astern of their predecessors, &c., that if one vessel is steering directlyT toward another, it will be made manifest by the lights appearing in a vertical line one above the other. The slightest change of course is manifested by the direction of the sloping range of lights the foremost being the lowest. For a steamboat for example our range lights may be three in number to be placed in the longitudinal center of the boat. The first may be placed at her stern or if it should be preferred it might be say six to ten feet high on the jack staff, the second, forward of pilot house at the verge of upper deck, to be higher at all events) than the first, the third still further elevated to the top of pilot house, or suspended between the chimneys, (or in front of the chimney, where only one chimney is used.) The lights one above the other, and reaching back with their established relative position and angle would unerringly show the heading or course of the steamer; these lights may be screened behind so as not to interfere with the observations of the pilot.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure A is a plan representing two steamers heading toward each other on a direct course. Fig. B is a plan showing the courses of two opposing steamers in an elbow or bend of the river. Fig. C is a side elevation of a steam boat rigged with our signals.

In Fig. A Nos. 1, 2 and 3, are our range lights on a descending steamer, while Nos. 4, 5, and 6 are our range lights on an ascending steamer. As the lights are in range it will be observed the vessels are approaching each other on a direct line and that unless the course of one or both is changed, a collision must ensue. A slight veering of either, at once disturbs the range of lights and will present an angle immediately observable to either pilot. Example Nos. 7, 8, and 9, and 10, 11, and 12, show that by the time the vessels would have met, they are at a and a respectively and out of all danger.

Again, suppose el, the track of an ascending steamer turning an abrupt point or headland, while a descending steamer is about to cross her track in the channel. At this moment their relative positions appear critical; but the angular position of the range lights on the descending steamer, at once indicates her heading to the pilot of the ascending one, who at once knows his duty, and without hesitation turns his boat on the line e thereby escaping all danger.

(c) is the line Of observation.

Vire claim as new and of our invention- A range of lights placed in the forward part and in the longitudinal center of a vessel the foremost light being the lowest and the following ones rising in succession above it; so as to present to an observer in or near the line of its course a range of light which is either vertical or is directed obliquely to starboard or larboard according to the course of the vessel.

Witness our hands before two subscribing witnesses.

V. P. CRAIG. WM. R. RIGHTOR.

Attest:

Guo. I-I. KNIGHT, J. B. BENNETT. 

